Chichester students’ steps for Holocaust memorial

STUDENTS from Bishop Luffa took part in Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday, by wearing their favourite pair of shoes to school.

This is because two Year 13 students, Merryn Kerrigan and Imogen Robins, visited concentration camp Auschwitz in November, and the thing which stuck in their head was the individual shoes left behind at the camp.

C140119-3 Bishop Luffa phot kate''Students from Bishop Luffa who joined in the celebration of individuality, by picking what shoes they wanted to wear to school.Picure by Kate Shemilt.C140119-3

“The shoes stuck out the most, as it represented that they were all individuals,” said Merryn.

So to mark the memorial day, students wore their favourite pairs of shoes, and there was a huge variety of different kinds of shoes.

“It shows your personality,” said Merryn. “Not many people are wearing the same shoes.”

The pair wanted to bring home to the other students that the Holocaust was more than just figures – it was real people who suffered.

Imogen said: “It is the individuals we should remember. They were all normal people.”

The trip had a profound effect on the girls, who came back and spoke to students from Year 7 to Year 11 about the Holocaust.

“We went for just one day, it was quite overwhelming,” said Imogen.

She said the other students took the talk seriously, and some became emotional when they talked about what they had seen.

The pair said the message from the Holocaust was still important today, and by highlighting people’s individuality, could stand in the way of bullying and racism.